Book index and file



(No Model.)

A. J. RUDOLPH. 300K INDEX AND FILE.

No. 499,442. Patented June 13, 18 93. V

1 Noams PETERS 20., rmmmu'mu. whsnmmou, D c.

UNITED" STATES PATENT" OFFICE ALEXANDER J. RUDOLPH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BOOK INDEX AND FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters;Patent No. 499,442, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed January 28, 1893. Serial No. 460,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J. RU- DoLPH,a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State g are pivoted at D, plates or links 0, and these of Oalifornia,have invented an Improvement in Book Indexes and Files; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements for compiling and arranging catalogue indexes or files.

It consists of a series of slip-holders adapted to contain index or other slips, said holders being hinged together at one edge, and capable of indefinite multiplication or subdivision, the hinges being easily disengaged for that purpose; and in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my book index and file. Fig. 2 is a section of one of the card slips showing the construction. Fig. 3 is a section showing the arrangement of the hinges. Fig. 4 is a view of the back of the covers, showing the indicating letter.

The object of my invention is to provide what I call an elastic book index, in which each entry is movable so that any number of entries may be inserted before or after it, and every entry, whether new or old, is always in its own proper place; and further in the ability to insert any number of slip-holders at any point with relation to those already in the book, whereby the book may be indefinitely enlarged, or it may be subdivided at any time to form new volumes, if it becomes too bulky.

A A are the slip-holders which are made of stencil or of card-board, or other rigid material of sufiicient width and length to form a book of the desired size. For ordinary purposes it is preferable to have these cards of sufficient width to form double columns by means of strips fastened upon opposite sides, and also down through the center parallel with each other having grooves or channels formed beneath them for the reception of the slips to be placed therein. The ends of the slip-holders are closed or made so narrow that no slip can be pushed out or lost, and if only a part of the columns is filled up, an elastic stop check a is inserted close to the edge of hinges E upon their edges.

: form the back of the book, is fixed near each end one section of each hinge, and to these extend away from the edge of the leaf-holder to which they are hinged and have double The lugs or eyes for the reception of the hinge pin are made in pairs upon the edges of the hinge plates 0, and when they are placed together, they are held by means of removable hinge pins F. These pins may be made in any suitable manner. In the present caseIhave shown them formed of two wires twisted together to form alength equal to the distance between the hinges at the top and bottom of the book, and from that point a single wire extends outward sufficiently to pass through the holes in the hinge lugs and thus hold them together. By

this construction it is possible to detach any leaf at any time by curving the twisted rod outward in the middle sufficientlyto allow the ends to be Withdrawn from the hinge leaves when they can be separated.

thus forming any desired thickness of book.

Covers G may be secured upon the outside and hinged to the first and last leaves of the book in the same manner that the leaves are hinged together.

If several books are used, it would be desirable to provide labels upon the outside which serve as guides to find the desired letter, number, or other subject contained in the volume. covers, and between the hinges, two or more broad-headed nails or catches, and a flexible piece of cloth, leather, or other substance adapted to receive the index letter or character, has holes or slits made in its ends to fit over these nails or catches. These strips are made of such length as to just fit smoothly when the book is closed, and when the book has been enlarged by the addition of any number of leaves which make it too thick for the index back, a new one of larger size can be easily substituted.

If a portion or a complete alphabet is used in one book the letters may be attached inside along the edges, as in other books.

For the purpose of readily finding any desired name, topic or other matter, I employ numbers or catch letters as Aa, Ab, Ac, 850. These letters are printed, written or pasted on strips in bold faced type or colors, or any other manner to easily arrest the attention of the user and enable him to turn instantly to the topic or matter desired, and they are also made movable in the same manner as the slips.

A book constructed in this manner can be opened out perfectly flat, no matter how many leaves it may have. It is capable of indefinite extension or contraction, and if it ever becomes too bulky for use as a single volume it is easily divided into as many parts as may be desired, each part being complete in itself and having a new letter or index character attached to its back. It enables the librarian or other person desiring such an index or catalogue to keep his work always up to date by the introduction of slips until the slip-holders are filled, and then the introduction of new holders in their proper position between those already forming the book, and the order is always exact. It forms a great labor and time saving device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A catalogue or index consisting of a series of slip-holders having parallel grooves or channels upon their opposite sides, elastic slips fitted to and retained within said channels and cap able of adjustment an d rearrangement therein, hinge sections fixed to one edge of each of these slip-holders, leaves flexibly connected with the hinge sections and having double hinge lugs upon their edges, hinge rods having the opposite ends adapted to fit in said hinge lugs, whereby a series of the leaf-holders may be flexibly attached together, substantially as herein described.

2. A catalogue or index consisting of a series of slip-holders having parallel grooves or channels upon opposite sides, slips fitted to said grooves or channels, and capable of ad- 3' ustment or rearrangement therein, hinge sections attached to one edge of each of the slipholders, leaves connected with said hinge sections projecting outward therefrom and having double hinged lugs formed in their outer edges, whereby slip-holders may be flexibly connected upon opposite sides of any other slip holder, a removable hinge connection consisting of the elastic Wires having the ends adapted to enter the hinge'lugs and connect them together when said wires are in a straight line, and capable of removing by bending the wires out of a straight line to withdraw the ends of the hinges, substantially as herein described.

3. An elastic catalogue or index consisting of a series of slip-holders having parallel grooves or channels, slips adj ustably fitted to said grooves or channels and capable of rearrangement therein, hinges whereby any number of said slip-holders may be connected together to form a book, and a' means for identifying all of such books in aseries consisting of the removable back having an index character marked upon it, said back being removably fixed to the inner edgesof the book cover, substantially as herein described.

4. A catalogue or index consisting of a series of slip-holders having parallel grooves or channels upon opposite sides, slips fitted to said grooves or channels, and capable of adj ustment and rearrangement therein, and stop checks at whereby the slips may be fixed at any part of the slip-holder, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER J. RUDOLPH. Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, J. A. BAYLESS. 

